Hundreds of dockworkers shut down key gates at the Port of Genoa on 6 February 2026 as part of a coordinated day of action at 21 Mediterranean ports. Organised by the CALP and USB unions, the strike protested what organisers called the ‘economy of war’, targeting ships linked to arms shipments to Israel.
The immediate impact was the refusal of entry to the Zim New Zealand container ship, forcing it to anchor offshore. Union sources said sister vessels Zim Virginia (off Livorno) and Zim Australia (scheduled for Venice and Ravenna) also diverted, while MSC Eagle III rescheduled its Venice call. In Genoa, picketers marched from the Ethiopia and Albertazzi gates to the city’s Principe rail station, backed by a municipal proposal to create a permanent observatory on port transparency and safety.
For shippers the disruption is a reminder of Italy’s exposure to politically-driven labour actions. Genoa handles over 2.7 million TEU annually; even a one-day stoppage can cascade through European supply chains, delaying automotive parts, fashion goods and refrigerated food. Freight forwarders have already activated contingency routings via La Spezia and Marseille, but capacity is tight.
![Genoa Port Strike Blocks Weapon-Carrying Vessel and Disrupts Mediterranean Supply Chains]()
In this context, VisaHQ’s Italy team (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) can remove at least one variable from the equation, fast-tracking business and crew visas, securing transit permits and advising on Schengen requirements so that shipping agents, auditors and travelling technicians reach alternative ports or inland hubs without administrative delays.
Corporate travel teams should also monitor potential knock-on effects. The port pickets coincided with regional rail works and upcoming nationwide air-transport strikes (16 February). Multinational firms moving high-value cargo through Italy are advised to build extra dwell-time into schedules and ensure suppliers hold buffer stock.
The unions hinted at further actions unless the government curtails military shipments. Employers and mobility managers should therefore incorporate strike-clause language into contracts and keep travellers informed via real-time alert systems.
The immediate impact was the refusal of entry to the Zim New Zealand container ship, forcing it to anchor offshore. Union sources said sister vessels Zim Virginia (off Livorno) and Zim Australia (scheduled for Venice and Ravenna) also diverted, while MSC Eagle III rescheduled its Venice call. In Genoa, picketers marched from the Ethiopia and Albertazzi gates to the city’s Principe rail station, backed by a municipal proposal to create a permanent observatory on port transparency and safety.
For shippers the disruption is a reminder of Italy’s exposure to politically-driven labour actions. Genoa handles over 2.7 million TEU annually; even a one-day stoppage can cascade through European supply chains, delaying automotive parts, fashion goods and refrigerated food. Freight forwarders have already activated contingency routings via La Spezia and Marseille, but capacity is tight.
In this context, VisaHQ’s Italy team (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) can remove at least one variable from the equation, fast-tracking business and crew visas, securing transit permits and advising on Schengen requirements so that shipping agents, auditors and travelling technicians reach alternative ports or inland hubs without administrative delays.
Corporate travel teams should also monitor potential knock-on effects. The port pickets coincided with regional rail works and upcoming nationwide air-transport strikes (16 February). Multinational firms moving high-value cargo through Italy are advised to build extra dwell-time into schedules and ensure suppliers hold buffer stock.
The unions hinted at further actions unless the government curtails military shipments. Employers and mobility managers should therefore incorporate strike-clause language into contracts and keep travellers informed via real-time alert systems.
